BroncoII4x4.com

Hello all.

My bronco II has the mitsu FM145 tranny, and I think it just blew. I was driving on the street the other day, and I heard a clunk. and so I put the transmission in neutral, and let the clutch out, and it made a loud grinding sound, which stops when I push the clutch in. It also grinds very badly when moving along, and make kindof a whirring sound. It stopped for a minute when I had the chance to get it up to 40 mph, but continued shortly after. I have had problems with my T/O bearing, but I don't think this is it since the noise stops when I push the clutch in. Anyone know what happened? I think it might be a mainshaft bearing, but not sure. I know you all say the FM145 is a POS, but mine has lasted a long ass time under quite a bid of abuse, and I have been driving real light on it the last few months fearing something like this would happen after hearing grinding noises when shifting from 3rd to 4th. Any suggestions? Thanks for the help, I love this board and my truck, it pisses me off that I can't drive it :(

Paul

Definately sounds like bearings. Generally the noise should quiet down or go away in 4th gear since that is direct drive through the transmission. It's highly unlikely that it's just one bearing. More than likely all the internals are already worn beyond reuse.

I bought my Bronco II with a noisey tranny I learned the hard way about these transmissions. First thing I had to do was spend as much on a transmission as I paid for my bronco.....that sucked.

These trucks are so plentiful nowadays, that I would never recommend a rebuild. Just find a used tranny and run it till it dies. As you already dicovered, even though they are ALL junk, they still last a long time.

Even better...... V8 which opens up options for reliable transmissions.

thanks for the advise. What would the cost of a rebuild be compared to a replacement? Thanks a lot! I might think about finding a 302/C4 and dropping it in if I can't fix it for a reasonable price.

Paul

The problem with my toyokogyo 5sp is they use a once piece "cluster gear" instead of a shaft and replaceable gears. If that needs replacing, it's like $600 or something just for the part. I think I paid $1200 for a full rebuild, but that was 13 years ago. I'm sure it still costs just as much if not more now. Beware of low bids, as they may not be doing a full rebuild.

I'm assuming the mitsu is the same general design. You may want to check weather they use a cluster gear as that's what adds significant cost. Even so, the cost of a full rebuild puts you well on the way to V8.

You should be able to find used transmissions from free to $400+. Depends on where you look. Hell you can pick up parts broncos for less than $400 pretty easy. I think I got $300 for mine. Actually the local pull-a-part has them for $60 or so, of course a bad tranny may be what got the rig there in the first place.

Yeah, I called around, most places want from $600 at least to $1200 at most, which is $600 to $1200 more than I have. I will probably try to find a trans from another truck, a buddy, and a case of budweiser and hope for the best, I really don't want to get rid of the truck (I love it to death), and don't really have the money for another car. Thanks for the help though! Many beers.

Paul

Hey, how many different transmissions came in the 88 4x4? I was under the impression that only the FM145 came in 4x4 5 speed BIIs. I called around, most places want around 600 (I think its outrageous). A few places said that the 88 4x4 also came with the mazda trans. If so, will they be interchangeable? Can I put the mazda trans in my bronco with the same t-case it already has in it, or will I need to buy the t-case that comes with the mazda trans? Or is the guy BSing me? Thanks for the help! (you think you know something until you...blah blah....)

Paul

There were a bunch of transmissions. There was a 4sp toyo, a 5 sp toyo, 5 sp mazda, 5 mitsu, C5, A4ld.

I believe the transfercase should interchange with them all. However, the the transmission length varied, so you could be looking at driveshaft mods.

There were also some crossmember, pilot bushing, and slave cylinder changes.

You could probably score a 4.0L and tranny for a reasonable price. That would pretty much be plug and play.

The 4.0 is definetly an option. How much wiring is involved with a 4.0 swap. Its easier for me since I have an engine hoist, to remove the engine and trans as one anyway, and the 4.0 would be a direct bolt in? That would be nice, of course, question is still cost. Thanks.

Paul

Check Dbrowns write-up on the 4.0L swap
http://www.broncoii4x4.com/4.0L-swap/4.0L-swap.php

Of course the 4.0L will just make you eat up trannys faster

There some interesting info here.0
http://rrorc.com/forums/printthread.php?t=5819

Thanks, thats some useful shit man. I found a yard locally with the mazda, but I declined since this was before I knew that they would swap, and the guy said it wouldn't (he don't know his Bronco IIs). I have the CV type driveshaft, so I can't imagine the length difference bothering my truck that much. If the t-case from my bII will bolt up to the mazda trans, and the length difference is negligible, I will probably call the guy back tomorrow and see how much he wants for the trans, or maybe a u-pullit yard, but if it will work, I will probably look into swapping for a mazda trans since its apparantely stronger. Thanks for the help, its greatly appreciated.

Paul

the mazda m50 is the strongest manual tranny they put in a ranger. if you can score a 4.0L and tranny at the same time I would go that rought. unless you want to just go 5.0L and be done with it. there is alot more options once you get a V8 in there.......

Well, I thought about a V8 swap, but most of the cheap 302s I find need a rebuild, and I don't need another project which requires an engine teardown. If I could find a 302/c4 combo in good condition, that would be the end of the discussion. I have plenty of tools to do that swap, since it requires pretty much no welding and a drill, except getting my transfer case to mate to it will be expensive (unless I can find a cheap solution). I am really not worried about my engine, it gets good mileage even though it doesn't have any power. Although I have been noticing lately maybe a rod knock upon start up, but it goes away in like 2 seconds after oil pressure builds up, then smooth, and usually runs perfectly. If I can find a 4.0 and trans, I'm doin that (since it will probably be cheaper than a mitsu trans).

Question for DBrown and other people with 4.0 swaps. What kind of gas mileage should I expect? The rest of the truck is stock, stock tires and gears, no lift, etc... Also, will I have to drill out the engine cross member? More questions to come if I decide that route, I have a while since I have no money right now and at least I will have a car, my aunt is letting me borrow her spare car, like 95 Mercury Sable, yay, no more walking.

Paul

no, you do not have to drill anything. use the 2.9L mounts. you will have to clearence the motor mount if you use the areostar exhaust manifolds. but other then that it will be a dead bolt in the only thing you have to deal with is wiring and fuel lines.

personaly, I would go for the V8. the next BII I get will be a 302. don't get me wrong.....the 4.0L has great power, but the tranny options suck and the aftermarket is is small. with the 302 you have way more options and the options are cheap. a cheap combo for you to run would be a 302/NP435/205. I can find decent motors around here for $200, 205 for around $50 and an NP435 for $125. the 4.0L I bought was around $425..........also duraspark is easy to wire

Wow, for a V8 combo, thats cheaper than any mitsu tranny option I have found. Well, it will probably be a while till I have the money to do anything, so I have a while to weigh options. I will be driving my aunts old car, 95 or so mercury sable, so it will probably be after the new year till I get my shit running again . Thanks for all the advise. I found a mitsu tranny with 75k on it on ebay, reserve of 225 and 100 shipping, which altogether is half as much a a salvage yard wants for this trans here in OK. If I can, I might put in a 302/435/205 combo IF its cheaper than just replacing my trans. But I love the gas mileage of my truck, I gotta decide whether or not thats worth giving up. Thanks guys!

Paul